Game frame and method of manufacturing same



June 8 1926.

H. D. PENNEY GAME FRAME AND METHOD OF MANUFACTURING SAME n 1 b um 10 w d2 l M w H3 A M u m w H m m B With/e55 e5 June 8, 1926. 1,588,139

. H. D .PENNEY GAME FRAME METHOD OF MANUFACTURING SAME Filed June 14,1922 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Inventor.- Ha/ro l'zfifi. Penna]- J 1 u E 2 r 2 w2 N N ulm Witt-M955 e5.-

assembled racket frame;

Patented June 8, 1926.

Qumran states Par-am; oFFlcE. v

HAROLD n. rnmmx-or PELH'AM, new YORK, ASSIGNOR, .ZBY MESNE Assreivmnnms,

TO A. s. 'sPALnINe & Bnos, on NEW YORK, 1v. Y.,- A CORPORATION OF NEW.

JERSEY.

GAME FRAMEAND METHOD or ANUFACTURING SAME.

Application'filed June 14,1922. Serial No. 568,343-

This "invention relates to striking implements, especially tenn srackets, and to apparatus or processes for making the same though itisnoted that the invention is not limited in all respects to these. 7

One object of the invention is to provide an improved process andconstruction whereby maximum strength combined with the necessaryflexibility-and proper weight and balance are imparted to the implement,and aframe provided which is practically indestructible.

Another object of the invention is to provide in a device of this kindimproved means and construction whereby balance can be imparted to theracket tosuit individual uses.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device of this kind inwhich the permanent inherent tension of the metal or material used isutilized to maintain the form and elasticity of the implement. I Otherobjects of the invention are to improve generally the simplicity andefliciency of such devices and processes for making the same and toprovide a device of this kind facture. e

The inventive features for the accomplishment of these and other objectsare embodied in an improved racket or implement which, briefly stated,comprises a'tubular metallic frame having a body portion and handleportions integral therewith, a center piece between said handleportions, means for securing said piece and handle'portions together.and a balancing filler or fillers'disposed in said frame to give properweight and balance to the implement.

Figure 1 is an edge view of a frame for a tennis racket embodying thefeatures of the present invention; A

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the completely Figs. 3, 4, 5 and 6 are enlargedtransverse sectional views taken respectively. on the lines 33, 4-4, 55.and 66 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 7 is a plan of the formed meta-1 blank respectively. 7 which isdurable, and economical to manu- 7 natural. position of the handleportions of V the frame relatively to the centerpiece before-securingthem together; v v I,

Figs. 9 andlO are respectively side ele-j vation'ja'nd transversesection ofthe metal blank before shaping; A

Figs. 11 and 12 are respectively fragmem tal side elevation andcross-section'of said blank with a-filler partially inserted.

'Fig. 13 is a side elevation of the blank with the filler positionedtherein;

Fig. 14Ais a plan showing thepartially shaped metal blank'and theformingblock on which-it is shaped;

Figsnlti and 16 are respectively plan and horizontal .sectionof theshaped blank showing difierent'positions of fillers therein; and

Figs." 17 and 18 are 'respectively transverse sections, onenlarged'scales, taken onthelines 1717-and 1818 of Figs. 15 and-l6Referring'to, the drawings, A designates generally a tubular frameformed of a light metal such for instance as magnesium or duralumin andbent so as to'form a bodyportion 1 and a pair of leg .orfhandle portions2, as shown in' Fig. 7; -The handle walls with longitudinally extendinggrooves -or channels; 3 (Fig. 5), which aredeeper at the grip portion ofthe handle and become shallower as they'approach the body until theydisappear entirely at the points where the handle merges into the body,as'shown portions are provided in their opposing insection in Figs. 4:,5 and 6 andin dotted piece itself being, shaped so' as'to have anenlarged portion or head 4: anda narrow throat or neck portion 6,whereby when the center piece is placed between the handle portions ofthe frame and the latter are pressed towardeach other they grip thecenter piece. at i s throat portion after the manner of a pairofpincers, as indicated in Fig.

8, the'handle portions 2,.with the center piece between them, beingthensecuredtogether by means of a number of rivets T which pass throughtransversely registering openings in the frame and center piece.

It has been found that the handle port ons 2 of the frame grip thecenter piece in a permanent manner, and that the tension of the handleportions 2 continues to ezrerta gripping pressure on the neck portion 6(without the necessity of screws or, the like hrough the neck portion,as in wooden r ckets) even af er exposure to weather and atrncsnheric,conditions, or fter swelling orshrii c of the center piece. It is alsofound that under had exposure to the weatherthat the curve of the handlePOI- tions ,2- wheretheyigrip the neck 6 shows no endency-to straightenout as does the .s-lm J V lar curve of wooden frames.

ln order to impart st; greater strength to the frame and particularly togive a finish t0 e acket, curvedchannel or bridge member 8 is provided,which is-secured to the body 1 by means of rivets '9, as shown in 2, thechannel thereo re eiving h end of theheadv 50f the center piece, saidhead being preferably; rabbeted at. its op p site sides to receivetheside Walls of t c a el member, so tha t e nter surfac s f s idWallsare flush with the surfaces Qt the center piece, as shown in Fig,4;. 'It will,

' of course, be understood that the groove and tongue connection betweenthe center p ece,

' .The racket above descri and handle portions of the frame may bereversed if desired; that is to say, the grooves may be formed in thecenter p ece and the tongues on the handle portions or other forms ofconnection may be used, The handle is finished by securing thereto atopposite sides, by means of glue or in any other suitable mannentheusual grip portions 10 forproviding the desired hand hold.

The body portion '1 of the frame is provided around its periphery with aline of perforations 11 for the passage of the gut used in stringing theracket, and around its end with a groove 12 for the protection of thegut from injury when the endof the racket strikes'the ground,

I bed maybe made of materials of the proper size, shapeand proportion to'g'ivethe required weight and balance to the racketybut a better way isto have said size, shape and proportions so selected ,as'to give aracket of standard balance and minimum weight and to provide greaterweights and different balances by the addition, during construction, offillers of wood or other material lnserted at the proper parts, orthroughout, the tubular frame. Balsa-wood, because of its lightness andsoftness has been found very suitable for this purpose;

One method of 15 of proper size and Weight for the lightest weight ofracket is selected and into this is insert-ed a filler 1.6 of balsa woodor other material which has been previously weighed to give to thecompleted racket the final required weight. This filler is disposedsymmetrically within the blank,'that is, so that of the blank, as inFig. 13:. The blank with the filler therein is then shaped over theforming block 19 14), and the racket of Fig. 13 are required, this iseasily accom-.

plished by disposing two fillerslfi 1.5) of the required weight andlength at that point in the tubular frame that will give the requiredbalance. Or, as in Fig, 16, five fillers 16 may be disposed at pointstogive the required balance. I v

The fillers may be of any suitable number and location to give therequired balance to suit any condition or individual.

"While I have described in detail the structure and process hereinillustrated, it is to be understood that I do not thereby limit myinvention to the features of construction shown, as I am aware that manymechanicalchanges and modifications may be made therein withoutdeparting from the spirit and scope of the invention :s set forth in theclaims hereto appended. it will further be understood that while Ihavedescribed the invention in connectimrwith a tennis racket, theconstruction is equally applicabl to many other implements which mustpossess a re quired flexibility, elasticity, light- "ness and balancecombined with strength.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is I i i 1. Animplement of theclass described, comprisinga metallic frame havin bodyportion and a pair of integral handle for .113; portionsin opposingrelation to each other and each having inits inner side a longiinsertingthe filler is shown i in Figs. 9 to 1 In this case a tubular blank itsends 17 are equal distances from the ends I tudinally extendinggroovetmerging into a flat surface adjacent to the body portion, anintermediate piece between said handle portions and provided at oppositesides, thereof with a longitudinally eXtendvto theirffree ends and drawntogether into substantially parallel relation for forming a handle andexerting tension on the neck, the'tubular member being four-sided andthe portion of said member forming the body having in cross-section fourstraight sides and said inwardly curved portions and said free-endedportions having three straight sides and an inwardly grooved side.

7 3. A racket comprising a frame composed of a. tubular member formingthe body, neck and handle, the tubular member being foursided and at thebody having in cross-section four straight sides and at the neck andhandle having in cross-section-three straight sides and aninwardlygrooved 'side.

at. A racket comprising a tubular member having an oval portion forminga body por tion and extended to form a throat portion,

a bridge member for the throat portion, inwardly curved portions of thetubular member adjoining the throat portion and forming a neck, normallydivergent straight free-ended portions of the tubular member adjoiningthe neck and drawn together into substantially parallel relation forforming .a handle and exercising tension on the neck, a filler betweensaid free-ended portions extending longitudinally thereof, and grips onthe handle.

, 5. A racket comprising a tubular member having an oval I portionstraight-sided in cross-section and forming a body portion and extendedto form a throat portion,inwardly curved portions of said memberadjoining the throat portion and having in cross-section three straightsides and'aninwardly grooved side and forming a neck, a bridge memberfor the throat portion, normally divergent straight free-ended portionsof the tubular member adjoining the neck and having in cross-sectionthree straight sides and an inwardly groovedside and drawn together.into substantially parallel relation for forming a handle and exertingtension on the neck, a filler between said free ended portions theinwardly grooved sides and extending longitudinally of said portions,and grips on the handle.

I 6. A racket comprising a tubular member having .an oval portionforming body portion and extended-to form a throat portion, a bridgemember for. the throat portion, 1

inwardly curved portions of the tubular member adj oining the throatportion and forming a neck, normally divergent straight free-endedportions of the tubular member adjoining the neck and drawn togetherinto substantially parallel relations for forming a handle and exertingtension on the neck and I a filler between said free-ended portionsextending longitudinally of said portions and into the space between theportions of the tubular member forming-the neck and throat andconforming to the shape of said space.

7. A racket formed of resilient tubing and comprising a body portion, athroat'portion adjoining the body portion, a'neck adjoining the throatportion, and a handle adjoining the neck, the throat portion havingspace between the portions of the tubing forming' the throat portion,and a ,liller member in said space and conforming to the shape thereof,said han-dlejbeing formed bynormally div r ent end portions of thetubing-drawn together into substantially parallel relation for formingthe handle andexerting tension on the neck and thereby re-V taming saidfillerxmember"inthe space of the throatportion.

8. A racket form-ed of resilient tubing.

comprising a body portion, a throat portion adjoining the body portion,a neck ad oining the throat portion, and a handle adjoining the neck,the throat portion having space between the portions of tubing'forming.the throat portion and the neck having space between the portions oftubing forming the neck and" these spaces communicating With each other,and a' filler meinber in the space of the EhIOEIlSPOlilOll and extendmginto the space ofthe neck and conforming to the shape of therespectivespaces,

said handle being formed by normally divergent end port ons of the tubng drawn together into substantially parallel relations,

for forming thehandle and exerting tension on the neck and therebyretaining Said 1 ler member. 1n the space of the throatp'on tion andneck.

9.-A frame ---for use in construction of striking in'iplements, saidframe comprising a metallic tube bent to form a body portion at themidpart ofthetube, widely spaced handle portions at the end portion ofthe tube, and gripping portions between the body portion and'the handlesand nearer together than the handles. v

l0.' A frame for use in construction of tennis rackets, said framecomprising a tempered elastic light weight metallic tube ofsubstantially-square cross-section bent to form a snbstantiallyoval bodyportion at the mid part of the tube, divergent widely spaced handleportions at the end portions of the tube, and inwardly curved grippingportions between'thebody portion and the handles.

' edge of the head and secured at its opposite ends to said bodyportion. J 7

12. An implement of the class described,

comprising a metallic frame-having a body portion merging into a pair ofintegral handle iiorming portions; an intermediate piece secured betweensaid handle portions and havimg a head disposed at the juncture of thehandle portions and body; and a curved metallic member of channelfo-rmae tionengaging the end of said head and bridging the spaceoccupied by the head. and

1 secured at its opposite'euds to said; body portion.

13; An implement of the class described, comprising a metallic framehaving a body portion, a pair of integral handle forming portions, andinwardly curved gripping portions between the body portion and handles:an intermediate piece disposed between said handle portions and havinginwardly curved side faces forming a throat; and means for securing thehandle por ions and intermediate pieces together in position to causesaid handle and gripping portions to clan the intermediate piece andsaid throat.

1 1-. An implement of th'e class described,

7 comprising a metallic, frame having a substantially oval body portionand a pair of integral handle forming portions, the inherent elasticityof the frame tending to hold the handle portions spaced apart anddiverging from each other toward their free ends; an intermediate piecedisposed between. said handle porions; and means for securing the handleportions and interinediate piece together in position to cause theelasticity of the frame to cause said handle portions to immovably clampthe intermediate piece;

15. An implement of the classdescribed .comnrisin' a metallic framehavin a bod portion, a pair of integral handleforming portions andinwardly bent grippino' portions between "the body portionand handles, 7

the inherent elasticity of the frame tending to hold the handle portionsfurther apart than the gripping portions; an intermediate piece disposedbetween said gripping portions; and means for securing the handleportions in position tocause the elasticity A portion.

of the frame to cause said gripping portions to immovably clamp theintermediate piece.

16. An implement of the class described, comprising a tempered tubularmetallic frame having a substantially oval body portion,'a pair ofintegral handle-forming portions and inwardly curved gripping portionsbetween the body portion and handles, the inherent elasticity of theframe tending" to hold the handle portions spaced apart and divergingfrom each other toward their ner end of said handle portion, said framebeing under tension so as to grip said tapered member.

18. A racket having a resilientmetal frame formed of a body portion andopposed handle portions, awooden member held between said opposedportions, said opposed portions being under such tension asto grip saidwooden member. I r i a 19. A racket formed of elastic. corrugated lightmetal tubing and a wedge at the inner end of the handle of said racket,and shaped to conform to the corrugation of said tubing, said tubingbeing under ten'sionso as'to grip said wedge.

20. A racket having a frame of resilient tubing, theframecomprisingopposed por tions of the tubing and a fillermcmberbetween the opposed portions and conforming to the spacetherebetween, and normally divergent end portions of the tubing drawntogether into substantially parallel relation and thereby exertingtension on the opposed portions of the tubing and retaining said tillermember therebetween.

21. A racket having frame of resilient tubing the frame comprisingopposed por tions or the tubing having substantially triangular shapedspace therebetween, a wedge member in said space and conforming tothcshapethereof, and normally divergent end portions of the tubing drawntogether into substantially parallel relation and thereby exertingtension on the opposed portions of the tubing said space.

22. A racliet formed of a metal frame having handle and body portions,the frame prior to stringing being under. a tension tending toseparatethe sides of the body and retaining said member in' 23. A process forforming a: racket which comprises bending a metal tube to form asubstantial oval body portion at the. mid part of said tube anddivergently spaced handle portions at the end portions of said tube andsecuring said handle portions to I an intermediate member in such amanner that said tube grips said intermediate memher by the force of itselasticity.

24. A process of forming a frame for use in construction of a strikingimplement, said 10 process comprising lnserting fillers of soft Woodinto predetermined parts of a tempered elastic metallic tube ofsubstantially square cross-section; and then bending said tube to form asubstantially oval body portion at the mid part of the tube, anddivergently Widely spaced handle portions at the end portions of thetube, and securing said handle portions together in such a manner thatsuch frame is held under tension.

HAROLD D. PENNEY.

